Radiator cleaner



June 28, 1932. J RO BR D 1,865,289

RADIATOR CLEANER Filed April 22, 1930 Patented June UNITED STA LLOYD J7 TROWBRIDGE, or oAMIj EN, N W JERSEY RADIATOR CLEANE Application filed April 22,

This invention relates to radiator cleaners and has for an important object thereof the provision of a radiator cleaner of such character thatthe cleaning may be done under conditions wherein the radiator is expanded so that the channels and passages thereof are of the greatest possible size and the dirt adheringto the walls of these channels has a natural tendency to release therefrom.

A further object of the invention is the production of a device of this character permitting circulation through the radiator While heated, and accordingly expanded, of a cleansing fluid which has been atomized.

A further object of the invention is the production of an apparatus of this character permitting thecleansing fluid to be de livered through the radiator under considerable force so that small particles of dirtand sediment which would otherwise tend to adhere to the walls of the tubes may be rapidly and efliciently removed therefrom. J These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawing wherein, for the purpose of. illus-' tration, I have shown a preferred emb odi-v ment of my invention and wherein:

The figure is a diagrammatic view of radiator cleaning apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10 generally designates an open-topped vat for the reception of the radiator R which is to be cleaned. This vat has arranged therebelow a closed tank 11 for 35 the reception of a liquid cleaning substance of any desired character. Between the bottom of the vat 10 and the top of the tank 11 a connection 12 is provided having a valve 13 arranged therein. Tank 11 is heated through any suitable medium such as a gas heater 14 and has extended thereinto an outlet pipe 15 which opensintothe tank at a point adjacent the bottom thereof and has arranged therein a valve 16. The upper end of outlet pipe 15 has an extension projecting adjacent the top of vat 10 and provided with a flexible hose terminus 17 adapted for con nection with an inlet pipe 18 of the radiator R. Likewise opening into tank 11 is a pipe 50 19 which is in communication with a suitable t disposed upon the bottom of the vat.

'24, as illustrated, may be interposed between 5 1930. Serial No. 446,314.

-the vat through theside wall thereof and at a point above the upper surface of a radiator Coil heater 14 and tank 11 so that the single heater serves both to heat the tank 11 and this coil. v

In use of the apparatus the radiator to becleaned is placed in the vat 10 and connected w1th the outlet pipe 15 through the flexible hose 17 The contents of tank 11 are heated as are the contents of vat 10 which should be of sufficient depth to submerge the radiator; Valve 16 may then be opened and fluid from the tank 11 will be forced through .the rad-i ator by pressure generated in tank 11 through heating of the contents thereof with the tank closed acting upon sediment therein and tending to loosen the same. This-sediment is further loosened by reason of the fact that the contents of vat 10 are heated and kept in vconstant circulation and, accordingly, tend to thoroughly heat the radiator and cause an increase in dimensions therein which materially assists in removal of caked sediment. Air pressure can then be applied to tank 11 through valve 20 and. if desired, valve 22 may be opened so that the contents of tank 11 which are passing to the radiator will be intermingled with air from the pressure source and will, accordingly, move at a relatively high speed. through the radiator R. When air admitted through valve 22 is intermingled with the fluid from tank 11, the fluid is atomized before delivery to the radiator.

When the cleaning operation is completed, the valve 13 may be opened to permit return of a portion of the contents of vat 10 to the,

'2' 1,-se5,aae

Ftank' 11. The air inlet i e e to 11- havin'g its end disposedtadpcent the bottom) f the tank will .tend to'prevent collection .of sediment on the bottomthe tank'which wfould otherwise impair the.efliciency there- $ince the construotioni herein' illustrated is obviously capable of a certain 'range of change'and modification without in any manner departing (from the spirit of m invenition, I do not-wishjto be understoo as limiting myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed. wl claim z I 1. Apparatus for cleaning automobile radiators and the like, comprising a vat to receive the radiator, means for maintaining a circulation of heated fluid within the vat and about the radiator, a tank for heated cleaning fluid'and a conduit for conductin fluid from said tank into a radiator disposed within the vat.

, 2-. Apparatus for cleaning automobile radiators and the like, comprising a vat to receivethe radiator, means for maintaining a-circulation of heated fluid within the vat and about the radiator, a tank for heated cleaning fluid, a conduit for conducting fluid fromsaid tank into aradiator disposed with- 0 in the vat and means for ejecting the liquid in the tank through said conduit.

3. Apparatus for cleaning automobile j radiators and the "like, comprising a vat to receive the radiator, means for maintaining a circulation of heated fluid within the vat and about the radiator, a tank for heated cleanin fluid, a conduit for conducting fluid from sald tank into a radiator disposed within the vat, a source of fluid under pressure communicating with the cleaning tank and means 'for introducing fluid from the source into the conduit whereby said fluid is atoinized.

LLOYD J. TROWBRIDGE. 

